Operator&#39;s skill compensating amusement device



Feb. 3, 1959 s. HAMILTON 2,372,193

OPERATORS SKILL COMPENSATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 22, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 3 66- Y 312 113,8 E W//////////A 32o SANBORN HAMILTON ATTORNEYS s. HAMILTON 2,872,193

OPERATOR'S SKILL COMPENSATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Feb. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 22, 1951 I N V ENTOR SANBORN HAMILTON BY Maw 7 ATTORNEYS in ii OPERATORS SKHL COMPENSATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Sanhorn Hamilton, Hutchinson, Kans.

Original application August 22, 1951, Serial No. 243,118,

now Patent No. 2,826,828, dated March 18, 1958. Divided and this application August 2, 1954, Serial No. 447,089

9 Claims. (Cl. 273-119) This invention relates to apparatus involving skill in the operation thereof, an example of such apparatus being a game of skill in which the difficulty of operation presented to a player may be automatically varied in accordance with the results obtained and constitutes a division of my application Serial No. 243,118, filed August 22', 1951', which issued March 18, 1958, as Patent No. 2,826,828. 7

The principal object of my invention is to provide ap paratus offering aid and stimulus to those people who desire the challenge of exercising their skill for purposes of recreation, amusement or education.

.When in the form of a game, it is possible to control the use of the game by means of a check or coin. Therefore, it is a further object of my invention to provide an improved check or coin-controlled game apparatus embodying the concepts of my invention as herein described.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a paddle board game in which the diliiculty of operation experienced by a player in operating paddles varies according to the results attained.

Further objects and advantages will appear more fully in, the following detailed description and in the appended claims.

The invention may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a paddle board game device;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a paddle employed. in the apparatus of. Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 shows an electric circuit employed with the paddle board device of Figures 1-3.

Referring to Figures 1 through 3, this game takes the form of a substantially flat rectangular table 310 supported in a casing 312. The table may slope gradually from each end toa low point along line 313' to cause a hired States Patent playing ball. (described below) to come to rest at a given point. The player will look downwardly at the table 310 from above, and will stand at an end of the table desginated 314. Adjacent the end 314 are a series of paddles 31611-4 arranged with paddles 316a and 316d facing inwardly generally toward the center of the table and with the paddles 3 16b and c substantially parallel to the end 314'. The construction of the paddles may be best understood with reference to Figures 1 and 3. Each paddle will be hinged as at 318 at the edge of the paddle facing the center of the table 3-10. The paddle will be generally in the form of a. quarter round strip having provision at some convenient point along its length for connection to an operating rod 323 extending from a solenoid 322.

When the solenoid is energized the operating arm 320' will move upwardly and the paddle will assume an up position as shown in chain line in Figure 3. There will be one solenoid for each of the paddles 316a-d.

The end 314 will be further provided with two conductive strips, one strip 324 being mounted on the end wall, and the other strip 326 being embedded in the table 310. The strips 324 and 326 extend completely across the width of the table 310 and are so positioned that a metal ball 328 when rolled against the end 314 of the table will be in contact with both of the srtips 324 and 326 and will be capable of completing an electric circuit therebetween.

The opposite end of the table designated as 330 is similarly provided with conductive strips 332 and 334 located in the end wall 330 and table 310, respectively, These strips are similarly positioned to permit ball 328' to complete a circuit therebetween at such times as the ball is rolled against this end of the table.

Adjacent end 330 there is also provided a set. of sole noid-operated paddles similar to those mentioned in connection with the opposite end of the table. In this case, as shown best in Figure 1, twopaddles 336 and 338 are located near the edges of the table and face inwardly generally toward the center of the table. A single central paddle 340 extends across the remaining central por'-- tion of the table and this paddle is generally parallel to the table end 330.

The paddles adjacent the end 330 are further characterized by the provision of closely, spaced conductive strips 342 immediately forward of paddle 336, conductive strips 344 forward of paddle 34d and strips 346 forward of paddle 333. As best shown in Figurev 2, these conductive strips are embedded in the table as are strips 326 and 334 so that the tops of the strips are just flush. with the top of table 31d. The strips 342, 344 and 346 are actually mounted extremely close together so that the ball 328 when rolling across the strips will complete an. electrical circuit therebetween. In the drawings, the strips are shown as spaced a greater distance apart than would be permissible. However, they are so shown for clarity and the proper positions of the strips will be well understood from the foregoing. To further insure contact, the portion of table 310 between the strips may be recessed slightly.

The game is further characterized. by provision of a rotatable disc 343 having its upper surface just flush with the top of table 319. The disc 348 is mounted on the shaft of a motor 350 which may be energized under certain conditions torapidly rotate the disc 348.

The paddle board game is played in the following manner: The player will stand adjacent end 314 of the game and from that position will be able to look down at the table 310 and will be able to operate with the fingers of the right hand a push button switch 352 for controlling the paddle 316d and a push button switch 354 for operating the paddle 316a. The. fingers of the left hand will be able to operate a push button switch 336 for operating the paddle 316a and also a push button switch 353 for operating the paddle 31612. The game will be started by inserting a coin or card (if required) in a start switch and the metal ball 323 will be positioned just forward of one of the players paddles 31652-03. A suitable position is shown at 328'. The ball will come to rest in this position because of the previously mentioned low point line 313, and the fact that the table may be slightly tilted sidewise. The switch 356 may then be closed and the solenoid 322 associated with paddle 316a will be rapidly rotated into the chain line position shown in Figure 3. The paddle in rising will strike the ball 323 and drive it forcefully along the table toward the end 330.. Depending on the condition of a circuit (to be described) associated with the solenoids 322 and various conductive strips, the paddle 340 or 333, depending on the precise path of the ball, may or may not be operated to return the ball. If a paddle does return the ball, it will be up to the player to operate whichever of paddles 3l6a-d the ball is approaching if the ball is to be returned. If the player is not quick enough to actuate the correct paddle, the ball will pass 3 overthe paddle and, in rebounding from the end wall, will complete a circuit between strips 324 and 326. Doing so will register a point for the game. Assuming that the ball has returned, if the paddle toward which the ball moves does not respond upon completion of a circuit between the two conductive strips immediately before the paddle the ball will continue and complete a circuit between the conductive strips 334 and 332..

This will register a point for the player.

.Once the game is underway, the ball will be moving quite rapidly in an unpredictable path, and the skill exercised by the player is in seeing which of the paddles 316a-d should be operated, and in operating the proper paddle at the correct instant.

Suitable circuits for interconnecting the paddles, conductive strips, and the motor 350 for increasing the difliculty of the game depending on the players skill will not be described.

- Referring now to Figure 4, the various paddles, conductive strips, switches and motor 350 are correspondingly designated in this figure as in Figures l3. However, the components are only diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4.

The game will be started by momentarily closing a coin or card operated switch 380. This will energize the resetting solenoid 382 of a stepping switch designated generally as 384 and will also energize the resetting Solenoid 386 of a second stepping switch designated generally as 388. Upon energization of the just-mentioned resetting relays, the stepping switches 384 and 388 will return to their starting positions under suitable spring action, so that the elements 384 and 384" of switch 384 and arm 388" of switch 388 will contact the lowermost of a series of contacts associated with each of the just-mentioned switches. The contacts associated with element 384 are designated as 390; those with arm 384" as 392 and those with element 388" as 394. The

contacts 392 and 394 will be connected to groups of score indicating lamps on a suitable panel associated with the game. The lamps connected with contactors 392 indicate the total number of points received by both the game and player, while the lamps connected to contacts 394 will indicate only the points credited to the player.

As soon as element 384' contacts any one of contacts 390 except the uppermost contact 390' a positive po- '4 On the other hand, it switches 352, 354 are not moved, the player may then operate one, but only one, of the switches 356, 358.

The previously mentioned solenoids 322 are each connected to one of the switches 352 etc., according to the above description of Figures 1-3. That is, switch 352 7 controls paddle 316d, switch 354 controls paddle 316c,

tential will be available over a line 396 and a capacitance a 398 connected with the line 396 through resistor 400 will be charged. The capacitance 398 is connected over a line 402 to carry current to the previously mentioned control switches 352, 354, 356 and 358. Whenever any oneof these switches is closed, a current impulse will flow through the associated solenoid as capacitance 398 discharges.

To prevent a player from pushing all of the justmentioned switches simultaneously in an effort to return the ball, the switches are interlocked, so that only one switch at a time may be operated. This is accomplished in the following manner: switches 352 and 354 located together at one side of the game are interconnected by means of a suitable rocking beam 404 which is pivoted at 406. Accordingly, only one or the other of the switches 352 or 354 can be depressed to bridge between its two contacts. The switches 356 and 358 are similarly connected by a rocking beam 408. These rocking beams will normally be resiliently retained in a central position, as shown in Figure 4. The rocking beam 404 is conductive and provided with a brush 410 which is normadly in contact with a narrow conductive strip 412. The line 402 is connected with the beam 404 and the beam 408 is electrically connected over line 414 with the conductive strip 412. Accordingly, if either of switches 352 or 354 are operated, the brush 410 will move ofi the strip 412 and no current may flow through the switches 356, 358, even if the player should operate t e switch 356 controls paddle 316a and switch 358 controls paddle 31612. -Whenever any one of the push button switches is closed, a current inrush, as described above,

will occur. Accordingly, the selected solenoid 322 will be momentarily energized and the corresponding players paddle will be operated to return the ball. The capacitance 398 will soon be discharged, however, and the current how will stop, permitting the operated paddle to return to its normal position.

Whenever the ball 328 bridges the conductive strips 324 and 326 at the players end of the game, this is a point in favor of the machine. Strip 326 is connected to a source of positive potential and bridging of the strips by the ball will energize a machine point relay 416. Arm 416a of this relay will serve to hold the relay closed momentarily until the charge established on capacitance 418 is drained ofi. While the relay 416 is energized, arm 416a will serve to energize a stepping solenoid 422 which will advance the stepping switch 384. This will move the switch arm 384" for one contact to indicate that one point has been scored. In addition, the arm 416b of relay 416 will energize a stepping solenoid 424 which operates a ratio discriminator disc 426 counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 4.

Whenever the ball 328 bridges the conductive strips 332, 334 at the end of the bame board opposite the player, a player point relay 428 will be energized. Arm 428a of this relay will serve to retain the relay in energized condition until a charge created in a capacitance 430 is discharged.

Every time the ball 328 bridges one of the pairs of conductor strips 342, 344 or 346, an associated relay 342', 344' or 346' is energized. Referring to relay 342' as an example of each of these three relays, the arm 342a will serve to provide a momentary holding circuit when the ball is moving toward the associated paddle. With the positive potential directly connected to relay 342 being larger than the positive potential connected to resistor 436, this circuit will hold while the charge on condenser 434 is drained downwardly through resistor 436, since the initial current through relay 342' is large enough to keep the relay energized but decreases as condenser 434 discharges to a value below the de-energizing point of the relay. When the relay 342 drops open capacitance 434 will be again charged through the lower contact of arm 342a.

Ann 342!) of relay 342 (and the corresponding arm of relays 344', 346') serves to complete one side of a circuit to solenoid 322 which operates the machine paddle 336. The arm 342:: of relay 342' (and correspondingly for the arms of relays 344', 346') serves to energize a stepping solenoid 438 which operates a difiiculty selection device which will be described below.

Another function of the players point relay 428 is that the arm 4281: thereof applies a negative potential to a line 440. The potential on line 440 energizes the stepping solenoid 442 of stepping switch 388 and also energizes a stepping solenoid 444 which operates a second ratio discriminator disc 446. For every point gained by the player the stepping switch 388 will indicate on the score panel the number of points won.

The disc 446 carries a brush 448 which engages one of three electrically conductive segments 450, 452 or 454,

mentioned stepping solenoid 438 operates is connected to drive three segmented difliculty control discs 458, 460 and 462. Each of these discs is made up of a different number of insulating segments separating conductive segments. In the case of disc 452, there may be a very low number of insulating segments and only one is illustrated. The number of insulating segments in disc 460 may be increased and four are illustrated. In the case of disc 458 there are a greater number of insulating segments and six are illustrated. Associated with each of the discs 458, 460 and 462 are spaced brushes designated 458' and 458", etc.

The brushes 458, etc., may ride on one side of the discs and the brushes 458", etc., may ride on the other sides of the discs and directly opposite the first mentioned brushes. Accordingly, the brushes are positioned so that they are engaging either a conducting segment or an insulating segment. When engaging a conductive segment, an electric circuit will be completed between the brushes.

When a player is quite skillful and is preventing the ball from reaching the goal conductors 324, 326 the ratio discriminator stepping solenoid 444 will advance brush 448 to eventually engage segment 450 of disc 426, as shown in Figure 4. While the brush is on this segment, a circuit will be completed from the solenoids 322 of machine paddles 336, 340 and 338, through the disc 462 (if brushes 462', 462 are bridged), through segment 45b and through a slip ring brush 464 and to a source of negative potential. Accordingly, assuming, for example, that the sole insulating segment occupies only a very few degrees of the disc, the game will be very difficultthe ball being returned practically every time. To additionally increase the ditficulty the motor 350 is energized, with the result that every time the ball passes over the disc it is veered from its path.

If the player is unable to cope with this degree of difficulty, the machine will receive points by reason of the ball contacting the conductors 324, 326. This will cause the ratio discriminator disc 426 to advance relative to the disc 446. Accordingly, the segment 452 will move toward brush 448 and the latter will eventually be engaged by stop 426' to thereafter carry disc 446. As brush 448 contacts successive segments due to the rotation of disc 426, ditliculty discs 460 and 458 will come into use by virtue of their respective connection 460 and 458 therewith. When the players skill increases, the opposite will be true, that is, conductors 332 and 334 will be contacted by the ball, causing disc 446 to advance relative to disc 426 and until stop 426 is engaged to thereby cause disc 426 to be carried with disc 446.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed Within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A paddle-board game device involving skill in the operation thereof comprising a ball, a table area supporting said ball for movement thereover, said table area including first and second ends, manually controlled paddle means at said first end for propelling said ball toward said second end, successful result responsive means actuatable when said ball reaches said second end, automatically controlled paddle means between said second end and said manually controlled paddle means for returning said ball back toward said first end to said manually controlled paddle means a variable percentage of the number of times said ball is propelled by said manually controlled paddle means, unsuccessful result responsive means actuatable when said ball reaches said first end, and means responsive to said result responsive means for altering the percentage of returns effected by said automatically controlled paddle means.

2. A paddle-board game device as defined in claim 1 including a rotatable member having a circular surface fiush with said table area for deflecting said ball from its path of travel, said rotatable member being disposed between. said paddle means.

3. A paddle-board game as defined in claim 1 including means responsive to the number of times said automatically controlled paddle means is actuated for rendering the same inoperable. I

4. A paddle-board game device as defined in claim 1 wherein said altering means includes a ratio discriminator for increasing the percentage of returns by said auto matically controlled paddle means in response to a predetermined increase in the nnmberof actuations of said successful result responsive means in relation to the number of actuations of said unsuccessful result responsive means, and vice versa.

5. A paddle-board game device as defined in claim 1 wherein said manually controlled paddle means includes a plurality of paddles normally flush with said table area, and wherein means is provided for independently manually actuating each of said paddles into a raised position to drive said ball.

6. A paddle-board game device as defined in claim 1 wherein said table area includes means for causing said ball to rebound from said first and second ends.

7. A device involving skill in the operation thereof comprising: an object, a table area supporting said object for movement thereover, said table area having first and second ends, manually controlled means adjacent said first end for propelling said object toward said second end to achieve a successful result in its movement thereto, automatically controlled means for returning said object back toward said first end to said manually controlled means a variable percentage of the number of times said object is propelled by said manually controlled means, successful result responsive means actuatable in response to said object reaching said second end, un-

succe'sful result reponsive means actuatable in response to said object reaching said first end, and means for increasing the percentage of returns effected by said automatically controlled means in response to an increase in the number of actuations of said successful result responsive means in relation to the number of actuations of said unsuccessful result responsive means and for decreasing the percentage of returns effected by said automatically controlled means in response to a decrease in the number of actuations of said successful result responsive means in relation to the number of actuations of said unsuccessful result responsive means.

8. A device involving skill in the operation thereof comprising: a ball, a table area supporting said ball for movement thereover, said table area having first and second ends, manually controlled means adjacent said first end for propelling said ball toward said second end to achieve a successful result in its movement thereto, automatically controlled means for returning said ball back toward said first end to said manually controlled means a variable percentage of the number of times the ball is propelled by the manually controlled means, successful result responsive means actuatable in response to said ball reaching said second end, unsuccessful result responsive means actuat-able in response to said ball reaching said first end, and means operable in response to continued successive actuations of said successful result responsive means for increasing the percentage of returns effected by said automatically controlled means up to a predetermined maximum level of difficulty and for maintaining said level of difiiculty in response to subsequent continued successive actuations of said successful result responsive means.

9. A device involving skill in the operation thereof comprising: a ball, a table area supporting said ball for;

. 7 movement thereover, said table area having first and second ends, manually controlled means adjacent said first end for propelling said ball toward said second end to achieve a successful result in its movement thereto, automatically controlled means for returning said ball back toward said first end to said manually controlled means a variable percentage of the number of times the ball is propelled by the manually controlled means, suc cessful result responsive means actuatable in response to said ball reaching said second end, unsuccessful re sult responsive means actuatable in response to said ball reaching said first end, and means operable in response to continued successive actuations of said unsuccessful result responsive means for decreasing the percentage of returns eifected by said automatically controlled means, down to a predetermined minimum level of 'difliculty and for maintaining said level of ditficulty in response to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quinn Sept. 6, Lynch Ian. 17, Henry Jan. 16, Koci July 4, Moloney et a1 June 16, Benak Nov. 10, Hamilton Mar. 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 8, France Sept. 6, 

